The folks at CFO.com favor Vanessa Castagna as the new leader of the new Sears Holdings, too:
The [Sears-Kmart] merger also poses another possible issue for J.C. Penney. In selecting [Allen] Questrom's successor, the company bypassed former Wal-Mart merchandiser Vanessa Castagna for the CEO slot. Castagna, who was instrumental in fixing J.C. Penney's merchandising systems during the turnaround, quit last week. At the press conference announcing the Sears-Kmart merger, two different analysts alluded to her availability, asking whether the newly formed giant would be hiring any big guns, one of them noting that "some very important talent has come on the market recently."
Sears executives didn't respond, noting merely that they had the funds to hire anyone they needed. But merchandising could be an issue. Despite plans for some rapid conversions to Sears, both store nameplates are expected to survive. Both also have significant brands, such as Kmart's Martha Stewart collection and Sears's Lands End clothing and Craftsman tools, that now are likely to be shared to some degree by the two stores. Combined, noted Kmart chairman Edward Lampert, Sears and Kmart purchase $40 billion worth of goods. That, he said, will give the new company "the ability to work with our supplier base to drive their business and help them save money, so we can save money for our customers." That certainly sounds like a job for a Wal-Mart veteran.
The writing's on the wall. Raed the full article from CFO.com, here
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